Dynamic art form display apparatus

ABSTRACT

A dynamic art form display displays electronic and optical art, pictures and movies using various display alteration methods in conjunction with flat electronic and optical wall and hand-held, portable display devices. The display alteration methods include light phasing, image propagation, time of day synchronization and combinations thereof. Viewer, environmental and automated control of the display, including a programmable borders and frames, are provided. User controls come in a variety of options such as voice commands and push buttons, and may be completely hidden in the form of voice or touch screen input. Environmental inputs come in a number of forms including amount of light present (light phasing), human viewer proximity and noise level. Automated control comes in the form of programmed parameters such as time of day, image propagation, image propagation rate, display duration, display intensity, volume level and display selection. A wide spectrum of electronic and optical art form media input sources are accommodated, including removable media such as CD-ROM, DVD, digital cameras, memory flash cards and removable disks, and non removable media such as the Internet, other computer networks, modems, computers, satellites, cable television, pagers, and video phones. Power can be self contained, externally supplied and is managed and controlled through user selectable functions. This invention removes major restrictions from existing art, picture and movie displays and allows new art, picture and movie forms to be formed and displayed at a consumer product level.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] This invention relates to displaying art in various uniquemanners on a relatively flat electronic and optical display that is hungon a wall or on a hand-held, portable device. More particularly, thepresent invention relates to displaying a dynamic art form on ahang-on-the-wall or portable display device where the art changes overtime according to controlled combinations of light phasing and imagepropagation.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Electronic and optical display and electronic and optical arttechnologies have been increasing in capabilities and decreasing incost. Electronic and optical display technology such as a liquid crystaldisplays (LCDs), field-emission displays (FEDs), and plasma displaypanels (PDPs) now provide the capability of displaying information on 20inch or even larger screens that are approximately two inches in widthand near 20 pounds in weight, while consuming only a few watts ofelectrical power.

[0003] In addition, large quantities of art are now available onextremely small physical media such as compact disk read-only-memory(CD-ROM), Digital Video Disk (DVD), memory flash cards and otherremovable or remotely accessible storage devices.

[0004] The two technologies by themselves, display and storage devices,are “dumb” technologies in that to date, they require a rather elaboratecomputer system with equally elaborate software programs in order topresent art on an electronic and optical display. Even in the case ofportable, notebook type computers, the hardware and software overhead ofa general purpose computing environment precludes the use of suchnotebook computers as art displays on walls of homes.

[0005] Personal computer users can now flip through collections ofimages, but these programs are intended as screen savers and imagecatalogs. They provide only rudimentary control over the display. Muchlike someone flipping through a photo album, these programs flip throughcollections of images at a fixed rate. The user may change the fixedflip rate and build a collection of images to be presented.

[0006] Present day electronic image display programs require largesystems and dedicated areas to display the images, (i.e., a computer,large cathode ray tube (CRT) display, keyboard and a desk, or atelevision with some sort of input box).

[0007] Moreover, present electronic and optical art, picture and moviedisplays do not integrate display and control hardware and software in amanner consistent with allowing people to hang a display on their wallthat accepts popular art, picture and movie storage media as its inputand provides the user with complete control over the display of theirchoice of art form.

[0008] Present day non-electronic and optical art form displays, such aspictures with frames, as well as electronic and optical displays, limitthe display to one selection that never changes, as well as limit theframing to a one-time selection.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0009] It is an object of the invention to address the above-noteddisadvantages in conventional non-electronic and electronic art formdisplays.

[0010] It is another object of the invention to provide a dynamic artform display device that adapts the displayed art form using highlyflexible environmental-sensor-controlled or time reference synchronizedimage adaptation techniques.

[0011] It is another object of the invention to provide a dynamic artform that can be hung on the wall or carried in one's pocket, thatprovides for light phasing, image propagation and time of daysynchronized alterations of what is displayed via a variety ofautomated, environmental, user and sensor controls. The inventioncombines innovative display methods along with the size, weight andvolume characteristics of hang-on-the-wall or portable personaldisplays. This new electronic and optical display invention enables newtypes of art displays, where the art does not remain fixed, as well asprovide endless display selection and control over the display.

[0012] Art Display Modes

[0013] It is yet another object of the present invention to provide art,pictures and movies display where the art, pictures and movies canchange over time according to light phasing, e.g., the lighting in thepicture or art changing to match the light of day from sunrise to sunsetto sunrise.

[0014] It is a further object of the present invention to provide art,pictures and movies display where the art, pictures and movies canchange over time according to image propagation, e.g., a personcontinuing to come down a set of stairs in the picture during the courseof a day.

[0015] Art Display Modes with Display Hardware Combinations

[0016] It is a further object of the present invention to provide ahang-on-the-wall and hand-held, portable electronic and optical art,picture and movie display where the art, pictures and movies can changeover time according to light phasing.

[0017] It is a further object of the present invention to provide ahang-on-the-wall and hand-held, portable electronic and optical art,picture and movie display where the art, pictures and movies can changeover time according to image propagation.

[0018] It is a further object of the present invention to provide ahang-on-the-wall and hand-held, portable electronic and optical art,picture and movie display where the art, pictures and movies can changeover time according to user, sensor and automated control methods suchas time of day synchronization.

[0019] Art Display Control Modes and other Features

[0020] Besides the above-listed novel art display modes and display modehardware display combination features, the invention includes provisionsfor a variety of control, art input and power features.

[0021] Control features include using the following techniques to alteror affect what is displayed and how things are displayed: time of daysynchronization (e.g., a scene or person that continues to progress orregress in time during the display period), viewer proximity, humanvoice, wireless (optical, infrared—IR and radio frequency—RF) signals,user programmable inputs such as keys and touch screen controls, andbuilt-in automated control such as a predetermined display change rateinterval.

[0022] Art input or input interfaces to the display modes and devicesinclude: various electronic and optical media art sources (e.g., CD-ROM,DVD, memory flash cards and removable disks), modems, cameras, networkssuch as the Internet, personal computers, and various non-electronicmedia such as slide and negative film, Advanced Photo System (APS) filmcartridges and paper art.

[0023] Power features include self contained power (e.g., batteries,solar power and fuel cells) as well as attachments for obtaining powerfor the display from an external power source such as an electrical wallplug.

[0024] The invention achieves these objects in part by providing anelectronic and optical art form display with the following features:

[0025] 1. Alteration of the display based on:

[0026] a. Light phasing;

[0027] b. Image propagation;

[0028] c. Time of day synchronization and automated control;

[0029] d. User inputs; and

[0030] e. Environmental sensor inputs.

[0031] 2. A hang-on-the-wall sized or portable, hand-held display withdisplay alteration methods of:

[0032] a. Light phasing;

[0033] b. Image propagation;

[0034] c. Time of day synchronization and automated control;

[0035] d. User inputs; and

[0036] e. Environmental sensor inputs.

[0037] In addition, users can insert or connect (physically or via IRand RF) new art, pictures and movies, decide the border and framing ofthe display, decide the type and rate of change the art, pictures andmovie images will undergo, and decide a number of other displayparameters such as display times and duration. Environmental inputs suchas time of day, amount of light, human viewer proximity to the displayand noise level can be used to trigger the light phasing, imagepropagation, time of day synchronization alteration of what is displayedwithout manual or user input. Automatic control such as fixed timeintervals can also be used to trigger the unique methods of alteringwhat is displayed.

[0038] Further scope of applicability of the present invention willbecome apparent from the detailed description given hereinafter.However, it should be understood that the detailed description andspecific examples, while indicating preferred embodiments of theinvention, are given by way of illustration only, since various changesand modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention willbecome apparent to those skilled in the art from this detaileddescription.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0039] The present invention will become more fully understood from thedetailed description given herein below and the accompanying drawingswhich are given by way of illustration only, and thus are not limitativeof the present invention, and wherein:

[0040]FIGS. 1a-c depict an example of the light phasing art displaymethod according to the invention;

[0041]FIGS. 2a-k depict examples of the image propagation art displaymethod according to the invention;

[0042]FIGS. 3a-b depict an example of the time of day synchronizationart display method according to the invention;

[0043]FIG. 4 shows a hardware block diagram of the invention;

[0044]FIG. 5 shows a control flow chart of the invention;

[0045]FIGS. 6a-c depict a foreground image (football) propagated withina background image (cake) which is another example of the inventiveimage propagation art display method;

[0046]FIGS. 7a-c depicts multiple images (football and helmet)propagated within one background image (cake) which is yet anotherexample of the inventive image propagation art display method;

[0047]FIG. 8 shows a time of day to sunlight, moonlight and earthlocation light phasing values table that is utilized by the invention inthe time of day synchronization art display method;

[0048]FIG. 9 shows the back of the preferred embodiment of the inventionshowing several major components; and

[0049]FIG. 10 shows the front of the preferred embodiment of theinvention with several major components.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0050] The invention includes the displaying of electronic and opticalart, pictures and movies using novel display alteration methods inconjunction with flat electronic and optical wall, and hand-held,portable display devices. The unique display alteration methods includelight phasing, image propagation and combinations thereof controlled viaa variety of user, sensor (environmental) and automated controls. Beforedescribing the apparatus, these display alteration techniques will bediscussed.

[0051] Light Phasing

[0052] Light phasing is defined herein as a method of altering thedisplay of art or objects whereby the lighting of the object or objectsdepicted in the display is altered. Light phasing includes alterationsin the (a) light angle (e.g., moving shadows as the sun moves East-West,or as light source moves within the image), (b) light source intensity(e.g., luminance change of the light source) and (c) light type (e.g.,clear sky, partly cloudy, overcast, stormy, phases of the moon,spotlight, rotating light and emergency flashing light).

[0053]FIGS. 1a-c are illustrative examples of light phasing in which thelighting angle and intensity are changed. Particularly, FIG. 1a shows animage of a woman in which the light source origin is on the right. FIG.1b shows the same woman with a higher intensity light source having anorigin in front of the woman. FIG. 1c shows the same woman with a lowerintensity light source having an origin to the left of the woman. In thesequence of images shown in FIGS. 1a-c, the light is phased from rightto left. This light phasing can be used to simulate the movement of thesun (light source) over the course of a day with FIG. 1a being sunrise(from the east or right direction), FIG. 1b being full sunlight at noonand FIG. 1c being sunset (from the west or extreme left direction). Thelight-phased images of FIGS. 1a-c are preferably displayed in sequence.Various methods of controlling the display intervals and sequence arefurther discussed below.

[0054] Changing the lighting of the object(s) displayed to match thelight of day variation over the course of a day or days is a furtherapplication of light phasing. For example, the display of a picture of aresidence is changed to show the residence in sunrise lighting from theEast, then shadows and light are changed over the course of time to showthe residence in mid-day light to sunset light to moonlight and back tosunrise lighting. FIGS. 3a-b illustrate changing the lighting of thedisplayed objects to match the light of day variation. Moreparticularly, FIG. 3a shoes a desert scene in full or noon-time sunlightwhile FIG. 3b shows the same desert scene at sunset. These images can bedisplayed at times which match the local sunlight schedule. Preferably,the images of FIGS. 3a-b would be supplemented with other lightingvariations such as the light and shadows of sunrise, morning, earlyevening and night (moonlight).

[0055] The light phasing of art or objects in a display can also includenumerous variations of lighting, including lightning storm or overcastlighting, emergency vehicle lighting (flashing or rotating coloredlights), bright moon light, no moon light, spotlight on and off,rotating lighting, lighting from one side then another, etc. Anotherexample of light phasing is a scene of a house which may be depicted inregular sunlight at one instant and then depicted in the lighting of athunder storm's lightning at the next instant.

[0056] Altering the lighting of a displayed image such as a building orperson depending upon the angle or distance of the viewer to the displayis another example of light phasing.

[0057] The light phasing can be real-time, meaning it would take 12hours or so to go from sunrise to sunset lighting. The light phasingtiming can also be faster or slower than real-time, e.g., going fromsunrise to sunset lighting in a matter of minutes. The timing of thelight variations are preferably independent of the light phasingtechnique employed.

[0058] Image Propagation

[0059] Image propagation is defined herein as methods of altering thedisplay of art or objects whereby the (a) position, (b) size, (c) shape,(d) age, (e) rotation angle or (f) other physical characteristic(s) ofan object or objects depicted in the display are altered from onedisplay time of the object(s) to the next display time of the object(s).Not all objects are altered and at least some part of the display ispreferably unchanged. In other words, one or more of the objects in adisplay are altered. The concept is to recognize the altered object(s)as being the same object(s) from one display time to the next displaytime with the object(s) age, position, color, size, or other physicalcharacteristic being propagated or altered in some manner. Altering onlythe lighting of the object(s) displayed is considered light phasing, asdiscussed in the paragraph above, and is not within the definition ofimage propagation herein.

[0060]FIGS. 2a-c illustrate an example of image propagation. FIGS. 2a-care a sequence of images in which an ocean wave propagates. Thepropagated object (ocean wave) washes over a non-propagated object (thelighthouse) in this sequence. In other words, an ocean wave ispropagated around a lighthouse until the wave engulfs the entirestructure.

[0061] Another example of image propagation is a display of a woman atthe top of a staircase that is propagated by moving the woman: the womancontinues to come down the staircase from one display to the next. Thestaircase and background are not altered, but the position of the womancontinues to be propagated down the stairs. Another example is a personclimbing up a mountain where the person is depicted higher and higher upthe mountain from display to display. Other examples of imagepropagation include children growing up and the aerial appearance oftowns changing over the course of the display time. The rise and fall ofthe Roman Empire depicted in a series of propagated images is yetanother example of image propagation. Depicting the construction of ahigh rise building from the ground up is another example of imagepropagation. Changing the display of the image of a building or personby presenting different viewing angles or sizes are further examples ofimage propagation.

[0062] Other physical characteristics that can be altered for imagepropagation include the viewpoint and relative size of objects in thedisplay. FIGS. 2d-f illustrate image propagation of the viewpoint viapanning of the display object(s).

[0063]FIGS. 2g-i illustrate image propagation of the viewpoint viarotating an object or image. Panning and rotating may encompass theentire possible range, e.g., a 360 degree view of an object, objects orimage. FIGS. 2j-k illustrate image propagation by altering the relativesize characteristic (zooming) of objects or an image.

[0064] Methods of Performing Light Phasing and Image Propagation

[0065] Both light phasing and image propagation may be performed in oneof four distinct ways:

[0066] 1. A single image transformed by image processing (e.g., moving alight source and altering shadows such as in FIGS. 1a-c and 3 a-b);

[0067] 2. A series of related images (e.g., a wave engulfing alighthouse as in FIGS. 2a-c or person displayed at various ages withvarying lighting, or the image pan of FIGS. 2d-f);

[0068] 3. Two images—one background image and one foreground image (e.g.a woman walking down the stairs with a background image of the house andstaircase, and a foreground image (the woman) that propagates in thisbackground). The so-called foreground image can also be a virtual objectthat propagates within a background image (FIGS. 6a-c);

[0069] 4. More than two images—two or more images propagated within onebackground, or one fixed image (FIGS. 7a-c).

[0070] Apparatus Description

[0071] The electronic and optical dynamic art form display may beimplemented with the apparatus shown in FIG. 4. This apparatus isconstructed as follows.

[0072] User control inputs (401) such as buttons, touchscreen areas,microphone and remote input devices (routed via RF and/or IF waves) areconnected to user control interface (409). The user control interface isconnected to an input bus (414) via input data bus interface (410).

[0073] Art/movie/picture input devices (404) such as compact disks(CDs), Digital Video Disks (DVDs) and APS cartridges (404) route data tothe input bus (414) via input data bus interface (411). In this way,various media storage devices can download their data to the apparatus.

[0074] Sensors and sensor inputs (403) include local and/or remote lightsensor(s), viewer proximity sensors, viewer directional or trackingsensors capable of tracking the direction or position of a person nearthe apparatus, a clock or clock input device for monitoring the time ofday, ambient noise level sensors, and other environmental sensors.

[0075] The sensors (403) detect various environmental conditions androute the detected signals to the input bus (414) via sensor interface(412) and the input data bus interface (413). The sensor interfaceperforms processing such as analog to digital (A/D) conversion andcalibration on the detected signals. If a digital sensor (403) isutilized, such A/D conversion would be unnecessary.

[0076] A processing element (418) such as a central processing unit(CPU), digital signal processor (DSP), or field programmable gate array(FPGA), is connected to the input bus (414) directly and via a businterface (417). A processing memory (420) is connected to processingelement (418) and to an automated control default parameter settingsmemory (402).

[0077] Other memories are connected to processing element (418) via amemory bus (416). These memories include sensor reading and controlprograms memory (415), display methods programs memory (421), sensorinterface and calibration program memory (422), programmed controlparameter setting memory (423), and power management programs memory(424).

[0078] The memories (420),(402), (415), (421), (422), (423), (424) maybe separately provided as shown or consolidated into one common memorydevice.

[0079] A display bus (419) connects bus interface (417) to displaymemory (426). A display controller (425) is connected to both displaymemory (426) and display screen (427) in order to perform displaydriving functions.

[0080] The display screen (427) is preferably a substantially flatdisplay screen with hardware for mounting the display screen (427) to awall. FIGS. 9-10 show the front and back sides, respectively, of thepreferred hang-on-the-wall art form display apparatus. All of thecomponents shown in FIG. 4 are preferably mounted within a common,substantially flat chassis thereby permitting the entire apparatus to behung on the wall in the manner of an art form. Alternatively, thecomponents can be mounted in a portable device thereby providing aportable art form display device. In addition, all components exceptthose required for the display screen itself, e.g., the processingelement, may be physically separated from the display and linked oroperatively connected to the display via physical (e.g., wires) orwireless (e.g., IR or RF) means.

[0081] Using the apparatus shown in FIG. 4, art, pictures, movies, etc.to be displayed are input via physical art containers such as compactdisks (CDs), Digital Video Disks (DVDs) and APS cartridges (404). Theimages that are processed by the invention into an art form display canalso be input from non-physical storage devices (e.g., surveillancecameras, satellite links) via display interfaces such as the Internet,Universal Serial Bus (USB) and Small Computer Serial Interface (SCSI)(405) implemented through physical or wireless connections. Whether viaphysically removable art sources (404), non-physical art sources,physical and wireless input connections, and via electronic and opticaltransmission (405), inputs are routed through a standardized interface(405). These standardized interfaces (405) serve to assure that existinginput media input and output formats and connections can beaccommodated.

[0082] The input data bus interface (411) serves as a fixed connectionto the display providing two functions: (a) a standard interface todisplay internals isolating new art form and new art input connectionsand formats from display internals and (b) providing a simple, standardmethod for accommodating new art, art media containers and input sourcesto be developed in the future. To accommodate a new media form, all thatneeds to be changed is the new media interface side of the inputdevice/art interface (405). All other apparatus functions could remainunchanged.

[0083] User control inputs (401) and interface electronics (409) arealso interfaced to the display internals via a standard interface (410).Sensor control inputs (403) and interface electronics (412) are alsointerfaced to the display internals via a standard interface (413).These standard interfaces (410,411,413) serve to isolate future artmedia, user and sensor technology interface changes to one side of asingle hardware/software module, reducing the cost of incorporatingfuture technology and prolonging the life span of the display.

[0084] A standard data input bus (414) is used to distribute displayinputs to both a processing element (418) and a display bus interface(417). The display bus interface (417) allows the input data to berouted directly to the display screen (427) via a display bus (419) anddisplay memory (426) in the case where the art input is in a form thatdoes not require processing for displaying the art. The display bus(419) must have the capacity in bits per second, to accommodate all ofthe possible display options such as flipping through a CD of photos ata high rate. The display memory (426) should also have a similarcapacity.

[0085] The sensor reading and control programs memory (415) are used bythe processing element (418) to control the display according to thedisplay methods programs memory (421). The sensor reading and controlprograms memory (415) tell the processing element (418) the sensor valueparameters required by the display programs (421) in order to controlthe display in accordance with the sensor(s) selected and its currentindications.

[0086] The sensor interface and calibration program memory (422) areused to calibrate the sensor readings for variations in temperature,dust levels on the sensor and other variables affecting the value ofsensor readings. The sensor interface and calibration program memory(422) contents tell the processing element (418) how to alter and storethe sensor readings in the sensor reading and control programs (415)memory. For example, the sensor readings when the display is firstturned on may have a higher voltage reading for a given amount ofambient light than when the display and sensor have been on a while andare operating at higher temperatures. The sensor inputs (403) are routedthrough the sensor interfaces (412,413), the input bus (414) and the businterface (413) to the processing element (418) which loads the sensorcalibration programs (422) to perform periodic sensor calibrations andstore the results in the sensor reading and control programs memory(415).

[0087] The programmed control parameter settings memory (423) stores alluser and automated program settings delivered to it via the memory bus(416), the processing element (418), the bus interface (417), input bus(414) and user control input (401,409,410). The automated controldefault parameter settings memory (402) stores all factory defaultdisplay settings for those cases where user input or sensor input is notreceived, either by malfunction of those input paths and devices, orlack of input from the user. The automated control default parametersettings memory (402) allow the display to operate without any user orsensor inputs and in the case of malfunctions. The automated controldefault parameter settings memory (402) can also contain on-screendisplay user instructions, and error and malfunction resolutionprocedures.

[0088] The power management programs and memory (424), and the powermanagement logic (408) are used by the processing element (418) tocontrol the power supply to conserve power when running on battery orother limited power supplies. The power management logic (408) controlsthe power supply for on/off operation and other processing element (418)power supply management inputs. The power supply (406) regulates, stepsup or down and controls power delivery to all display components. Theexternal power interface (407) provides connections and physicalinterfaces for external power connections such as 110 volt wall powerand for internal or rear mounted display power supplies such asbatteries.

[0089] The processing element (418) feeds the appropriately formattedart display data to the display memory (426) via the display bus (419).The display memory (426) and the display controller (425) provide forsmooth display and refresh rates of the art display data from theprocessing element (418). The display screen (427) presents the displaydata from the display memory in a format applicable for the displaytechnology, e.g., for Liquid Crystal Displays (LCDs), Transistordisplays (TFT), etc.

[0090] Functional Description

[0091] The method of FIG. 5 utilizes the apparatus of FIG. 4.Specifically, the method of FIG. 5 and the display alteration programsare stored in display methods program memory (421). The method beginswhen the display is turned on initially by the user (500). After initialturn-on by the user, the display can be programmed to turn off or onaccording to sensor readings or factory settings. Once turned on, theuser determines the type of control (501) desired. If automated controlis desired (503), the art input source is selected (504) from theoptions available via (404) and (405). The display method is selected.Light phasing, image propagation (505) and the appropriate displayparameters are entered (506), or a set of defaults (402) is agreed tovia user input or after a set time has elapsed without a chosenselection. Depending upon the display parameters selected (506), adetermination is made whether or not sensors are required (507).

[0092] If the user has selected time of day synchronization, then a timereference can be used. If the time of day synchronization is set suchthat only an internal clock, part of either (403), (424) or (418), orbuilt in time tables (e.g., FIG. 8) are required, then no other externalsensor is required. If time of day synchronization is set to synchronizewith ambient light, then an ambient light sensor (physically or wirelessremote or attached) input would be required. If the user has selectedviewer proximity as a method of display control, then a proximity sensorwill be required. If sensors are required, the necessary sensor suite isselected by the display (518). Depending upon user selections, powermanagement may or may not be required (519,520).

[0093] The display now has all the required configuration informationand display activation can begin (521). If automated control has beenselected, checks are periodically made by running through the controlchain (522,500,501,503,504,505,506,507,519,521,522 . . . ) to determinewhether operation should be terminated. If sensors or automated controlrequires a termination of display functions, the display turns itselfoff and waits for new power on and programming instructions. Power-oninstructions may come periodically from the display control (421,418) inaccordance with pre-programmed selection for periodic turn-on andturn-off. Using a time of day internal clock selection for turning thedisplay on and off would be an example of automated turn on and turn offoperation. The programmed chain of operations(502,508,509,510,511,512,513,514,515,516,517,525,500,501,502 . . . ) isidentical to the automated operation described with the exception ofdisplay alteration triggers (511). Here the more elaborateuser-selectable operations can be set using any and all availablesensors, display parameters and combinations of the two. This type ofoperation requires much more user input and is therefore given aseparate operational path for those times and users when more complexoperation is not desired.

[0094] Control Methods

[0095] Light phasing and image propagation are controlled via a numberof user, sensor and automated source methodologies. User control methodsfor light phasing, image propagation and general display control includemanaging all sensor and automated control methods. The user can turn onor off sensor inputs or select which sensors to use. For example, theuser can select the proximity sensor to increase the display change rate(either light phasing, image propagation or both) as the viewerapproaches the display. The user can also select the change rate forautomated operation. For example, the user can select once per hour foran image propagation of family photos to depict family members over thecourse of time.

[0096] Control over the complete set of display options can be via anumber of user control inputs (401) such as voice command, wireless(e.g., IR and RF) remote control, physical touch inputs such as buttons,a touch screen, dials and knobs, and media input selections. Voicecontrol includes the recognition of spoken commands such as “propagatefurther”, “change lighting to early morning”, “make it bright moonlighting”, “move ahead twenty years”, etc. User control can be exercisedover all possible display options and controls, including sensor andautomated control methods, even if some controls can be set as “factorydefault” settings requiring no user input for display operation.

[0097] Sensor source methods for light phasing, image propagation andgeneral display control include environmental and external inputs usedto trigger changes in the display. Inputs and sensors (403) envisionedfor control include light sensors, humidity sensors, time-of-day clocks,viewer directional sensors, viewer proximity sensors, ambient noiselevel sensors, or any number of environmental and external inputs. Anyand all sensors (403) can be located on the display, or the display cancontain a sensor interface (412) to which remote sensors transmit theirdata. An IR port can be used for remote sensor interfacing and datainput. For example, a remote light sensor senses the ambient lightlevels outside a home, transmit the levels to the display for lightphasing according to outside, rather than display location, lightphasing. The light sensor (403) would therefore not be fooled by falselight readings for a display location where the light levels do notmatch the desired light phasing or image propagation timelines.

[0098] A viewer proximity sensor (403) can also be used by theprocessing element (418) and display methods programs memory (421) tovary the light phasing, image propagation and display resolution basedon the distance to the viewer. As people are near the display, the imageis propagated at a certain rate and when people are not near thedisplay, the image is not propagated. The display can be turned on oroff via light or viewer proximity. If no ambient light is detected, suchas in a home at midnight with no lights on, or there is no viewerdetected within a given distance, say 25 feet, the display is turnedoff. A viewer directional sensor (403) can be used to pan or rotate theimage or objects displayed with the viewer's movement. An ambient noiselevel sensor (403) can be used to vary the display by increasing therate of change as noise levels rise and decreasing the rates of changeas noise levels drop. All sensor parameters, such as sensitivity levels,on/off, linearity or non-linearity of response values, etc. can becontrolled via user control input or left for automated control.

[0099] Sensors can be used in combination to control light phasing andimage propagation. For example, an ambient light sensor can be used inconjunction with a proximity sensor to alter the displayed art insynchronization with light of day only when a viewer is within viewingdistance. Such combinations of sensors can also be automatically set bythe apparatus power management (424) to save power, particularly whenrunning on internal battery power.

[0100] Automated source methods for light phasing, image propagation andgeneral display control include time of day synchronization, moonphases, propagation rates of time such as change every second, everyhour, every week, every month and utilization of image data from inputmedia and etc. For example, APS film cartridge data could be used todisplay an image on an anniversary date or to display vacation pictureson the anniversary of when they were taken.

[0101] Time of day synchronization is defined herein as the method ofaltering the display of art or objects whereby a physicalcharacteristics of an object or objects depicted in the display isaltered according to the passage of time including time of day, time ofthe week, time of the month, season of the year and phases of the moon.The time of day may be local time or remote time. For example, the timeof day at another point on earth can be used to simulate Tokyo, Japantime-of-day-lighting of a Tokyo landmark art form displayed on anapparatus that is hung on a wall in New York, USA.

[0102] A table, such as shown in FIG. 8, relating sun position andlighting values to times of day for local and other positions on earthis stored in the programmed control parameter settings memory (423) orother memory device of the apparatus display to control the lightphasing. Built-in 24 hour timers, part of either (403), (424) or (418),and tables can be used to provide the automated rates of change for thedisplay, whether light phasing or image propagation.

[0103] Time of day synchronization display options include depicting theskyline during any time in history or the future from any view point onearth and altering the view in synchronization with the time of day andday of the year. The variation of the displayed object using time of daysynchronization includes the display a flower closed in the morning,opening during the course of the morning, fully open at noon, closingduring the afternoon, and fully closed at evening time.

[0104] Another example of time of day synchronization used inconjunction with light phasing is the display of a landscape scenealtered over display intervals to show the scene during sunrise in themorning, strong overhead, little or no shadows during noon time, andsunset lighting at sunset time of day.

[0105]FIGS. 3a-b depict a time of day synchronization in conjunctionwith light phasing. The image is altered by the display's built-incontrol and processing functionality to exactly match the time of day.Automated display control methods are accomplished in conjunction with anumber of different environmental and external input sensors. The timeof day can be received from atomic clock transmissions through the airor via an external interface input (412) which may include a connectionto the Internet. All automated source methods of display control can becontrolled via user control input or left for built in, program andtimer set, automated control.

[0106] Whether by user input, sensor input, automated control or anycombination of the these three, more conventional changing displays arealso provided such as displaying several still pictures over the courseof time where the selections and display times are viewer choices orprovided at random, sequentially or in some other invention chosenmanner. Entire photo or art collections can be displayed over the courseof time as the display cycles through the available art and photochoices at a rate selected by the viewer or programmed by the viewer atsome previous time. An entire art museum collection can be displayed inthis manner over a time interval selected by the viewer. Several artworks, pictures, movies or combinations of all three can be displayedsimultaneously as selected by the viewer.

[0107] The entire display can be configured and programmed by the user(FIG. 5) or through built in functionality (402) to provide a wide rangeof control options: viewer proximity (e.g., as a person or persons comewithin a specified distance of the display, the display alters itself insome manner such as brightness, display content or framing); human voicecommands; optical (including IR) and RF remote control signals; userprogrammable inputs such as keys and touch screen controls; and built-inautomated control such as a predetermined display change rate interval.

[0108] Human viewer proximity is defined herein as the method ofaltering the display of art or objects whereby any aspect of the displayis altered based upon the proximity of people to the display. Thedisplay can be programmed to turn on when people are within a definedviewing distance. The viewing distance can be set depending upon thedisplay size. For example, if the display is a 40 inch hang-on-the-walldisplay, the proximity control can be set such that if people aredetected to be within 10 feet, the display will turn on. For a smalldisplay, say 10 inches, the proximity control can be set to alter thedisplay when people are detected within 2 feet.

[0109] Other display control methods that may be utilized in conjunctionwith the display control methods disclosed herein include: voice, IR andradio signal remote controls, user accessible push buttons or touchscreen controls, and automated, built in default controls such as fixedimage propagation rates (e.g. once per hour).

[0110] The human proximity control, as well as other display controlscan be set to control the innovative display methods. For example, thedisplay image can be propagated only when there are people within adefined proximity distance. Noise levels, amount of ambient light, timeof day, etc. are all inputs that can be used to propagate the displayedart at user defined or automatic rates.

[0111] As shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, the display controls (910) and (1030)provide a vast number of viewing options including the selection of theprogrammable border of the display as further described below. Thecontrols can be accessed via a front panel (1030) which opens to revealthe controls in the case of a non programmable display border. Forremote control, the display control input sensors (1020) are visiblefrom the front. Such sensors can include an IR, radio frequency, voiceor other type of interface/signal converter.

[0112] In the case of a completely programmable border display, nocontrols or sensor input are visible from the front. In this case,control input is via remote control that does not require a direct lineof site, such as voice commands or RF, with the input sensors located onthe back and side of the display (910). The actual display control logicis hidden behind the display (910). The display logic is composed ofprogrammable semiconductors and discrete logic hardware. The displayitself would depict the options selected for a set time period on theorder of a few seconds. The controls can also be accessed via thedisplay screen (1000) itself via touch screen inputs. In this case, theviewers can touch a given area, (e.g., the far right corner) of thedisplay, bring up a menu of art, picture and movie viewing and selectionoptions, and touch the screen at the regions allocated as the controlinputs.

[0113] The invention accepts a wide variety of input media or electronicand optical connections as the source of art, pictures or movies to bedisplayed (404). The external input device interface (901) optionsprovide a connection to the source of the art, pictures and movies. Astandard interface (901) to the display and control logic, such as thesmall computer serial interface (SCSI), IDE, RS-422, etc., provides forplugging in electronic and optical art, picture and movie storage mediain industry standard formats such as CD-ROM drives, DVD drives, flashmemory cards, digital cameras, removable disk drives, tape drives, etc(900,405). The invention can be equipped with any one of these standardinput devices, allowing viewers the option of media and display sources.Viewers insert and remove the media of their choice from the appropriatedevice at the side and slightly behind the front of the display. Anotherinterface provided is for input from non-removable art form sources(902) such as cameras, satellites, cellular telephones, pagers, personalcommunication systems (PCS), cable television, television decoders,computer networks, video phones and household/ computer networks. Thistype of interface can also be swapped in and out to accommodate variousexisting, emerging and future art form sources.

[0114] The power supply (406,920) can be internal or external. Internalpower supply options are preferred and include batteries of varioustechnologies, wind up electrical generators, and various types ofgravity lowering of weight methods (e.g., Cuckoo clock) of generatingelectricity. External power sources require an interface (407,930) whichcan accept power from any number of sources such as wall currenttransformers, solar cell output, etc. The power supply will providepower control and management functions such as power save functionsincluding display dimming, sleep mode and on off functions (408). Thesepower functions will be viewer selectable through the display controls.

[0115] The entire invention has the weight, volume and powerrequirements to be hung on the wall to act as an electronic and optical,programmable alternative to current-day, hang-on-the-wall art andphotographs, or can be carried in one's pocket as an alternative tocurrent photo albums and art displays. All non-display components of theinvention fit behind and on the side of the display so that the entireinvention can be attached to the wall via standard wall hanger hardware(940).

[0116] Referring to FIG. 10, the display, (1000) and (1010), is asemiconductor, electronic and optical display such as an active orpassive matrix LCD, an array of light emitting diodes (LEDs), transistoror other type of thin display (e.g., TFT) requiring approximately twoinches in depth. The display can have a fixed or a programmable border(1010). With a fixed border, the display is preferably mounted inside aframe made of a material such as wood or plastic.

[0117] In the case of a programmable border (1010), the display itselfhas no frame and the display area fills the entire width of theinvention. The viewer can program the border of the display to simulateany number of framing and matting options. The programmable border(1010) can be selected by the viewer to be a certain number of inches orcentimeters around the edge of the display. The border textureparameters can be defined by the user to be a wood texture, metal or anynumber of selectable texture simulations. Color options for the borderinclude any combination of black and white, gray scale, and color, andtexture maps. The programmable border (1010) may also be composed ofseveral borders of different sizes, colors and texture combinations tosimulate a frame with one or more mattes. Furthermore, the light phasingand image propagation methods may be applied to alter the programmableborder (1010).

[0118] This invention provides the following exclusive art, picture andmovie display features: light phasing, image propagation, time of daysynchronization and combinations thereof. The types of art, pictures andmovies (1000) that can be displayed by the invention include new optionsonly possible with this invention. Movies can be displayed in real timeat motion picture frame rates as well as frame by frame, in reverse orin any other manner currently offered by Video Players (fast forward,fast reverse, still, etc.). Besides the typical unchanging display ofart, picture and movies, an endless variety of changing displays arepossible with the invention. Art, picture and movies displayed can beanimated to change over the course of time according to the inventivecontrol methods described above.

[0119] This invention removes major restrictions from existing art,picture and movie displays and allows new art, picture and movie formsby providing innovative display alterations: light phasing, imagepropagation, time of day synchronization and environmental input.Displaying a woman coming down a flight of stairs one stair at a time orthe lighting within the picture changing during the course of a day aresome examples of the new types of changing art displays made possible bythis invention. Even non-changing art, pictures and movies can bedisplayed in a changing manner, for example, by rotating the picturesdisplayed from one family picture to another.

[0120] Unlike present day non-electronic and electronic and optical art,picture and movie displays the display is not limited to one selectionthat never changes, with a frame and matting that can not be changed.The entire invention can be hung on the wall, or carried in one'spocket. It has the size, weight and volume characteristics of presentday on the wall picture or personal assistant displays, and provides forviewer or automatic control over what is displayed, as well as over theframe or border of the display. At an estimated consumer bearable price,this invention will provide millions with a flexible, adaptive art,picture and movie display that never grows out of date.

[0121] The use of any or all of the unique display methods of lightphasing, image propagation, time of day synchronization and anycombination of these with flat, electronic and optical wall andportable, hand-held displays completes the innovation in that the entirepackage forms a product for sale and consumption.

[0122] All components except the display itself, could be physicallydistant from the display and not even a part of the display, linked viaphysical connection (e.g., wires) or linked via wireless connections(e.g., IR, RF). For example, the processing element could be a PC,transmitting the contents of a CD, Internet or any other art source datato the input data bus interface (411), directly to the displaycontroller (426), or to any portion of the display. All of theprogrammable user functions could be located on a desk unit,transmitting their user selections to the memory bus (416).

[0123] Almost any device can serve as an art input source by beinglinked to the display components or the display itself via wirelessconnections. As long as the art source transmits the art data in aformat understandable by the display control logic, the display canpresent the art data on the screen. The display logic, e.g., theprocessing element and display methods program memory, can all beprogrammed via software to alter their functionality to accommodate newart forms and display options. Display functionality updating can beaccomplished via physical or wireless input through the input businterfaces (410,411,413) to upload new programs, sensor settings, timeof day synchronization tables, etc.

[0124] The invention being thus described, it will be obvious that thesame may be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regardedas departure from the spirit and scope of the invention, and all suchmodifications as would as would be obvious to one skilled in the art areintended to be included within the scope of the following claims.

What is claimed:
 1. A wall-mountable or portable dynamic art formdisplay apparatus, comprising: a substantially planar display devicedisplaying the art image; and at least one art source operativelyconnected to said display device and supplying at least one art image;an image controlling device operatively connected to said display deviceand said art source, said image controlling device propagating at leastone object in the art image to generate a propagated art image, wherein,when propagating, said image controlling device alters the displayed artimage to depict a change in at least one physical characteristic of atleast one object in the art image.
 2. The wall-mountable dynamic artform display apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising anautomated control device, operatively connected to said imagecontrolling device, that operates the display without requiring userinputs.
 3. The dynamic art form display apparatus according to claim 1,wherein said apparatus further comprises an environmental sensoroperatively connected to said image controlling device and detecting anenvironmental condition, said environmental sensor including one or moreof the following: a proximity sensor detecting physical proximity of aviewer, a noise sensor detecting an ambient sound level, a light sensordetecting an ambient light level, a humidity sensor detecting ambienthumidity, a tracking device tracking a physical location of a viewer, ora time sensor sensing a time of day.
 4. The dynamic art form displayapparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a wall-mountingdevice attached to a back side of the apparatus that permits theapparatus to be mounted to a wall.
 5. The dynamic art form displayapparatus according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus is a portabledevice.
 6. The dynamic art form display apparatus according to claim 1,wherein said art source is a removable art form input device.
 7. Thedynamic art form display apparatus according to claim 1, wherein saidart source is a non-removable art form input device.
 8. The dynamic artform display apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said imagecontrolling device propagates the art image by manipulating pixelswithin the art image.
 9. The dynamic art form display apparatusaccording to claim 1, wherein said display device displays the art imageand the propagated art image.
 10. The dynamic art form display apparatusaccording to claim 1, wherein said apparatus propagates at least oneobject in the art image, and does so to depict a change in at least oneof size, position, shape, color, apparent age, viewing angle, androtation angle of at least one object within the art image.
 11. Thedynamic art form display apparatus according to claim 1, wherein saidapparatus propagates the art image by controlling the routing of aseries of at least two art images from said art source to said displaydevice.
 12. The dynamic art form display apparatus according to claim 1,wherein said apparatus further comprises an environmental sensoroperatively connected to said apparatus and detecting an environmentalcondition around the apparatus, said apparatus propagating the art imagein relation to the environmental condition detected by saidenvironmental sensor.
 13. The dynamic art form display apparatusaccording to claim 12, wherein said environmental sensor is mounted tosaid apparatus or at a location remote to the apparatus.
 14. The dynamicart form display apparatus according to claim 12, further comprising: aremote sensor interface device operatively connected to said imagecontrolling device, wherein said environmental sensor is mounted at alocation remote to the apparatus, detects an ambient condition aroundsaid environmental sensor, and sends a sensor value signal to saidremote sensor interface device, said remote interface sensor devicerouting the sensor value signal from said environmental sensor to saidimage controlling device.
 15. The dynamic art form display apparatusaccording to claim 12, wherein the time reference is a clock signal insynchronism with an actual time of day.
 16. The dynamic art form displayapparatus according to claim 15, wherein the actual time of day is anactual time of day at a location distinct from a location of theapparatus.
 17. The dynamic art form display apparatus according to claim12, wherein said apparatus propagates the art image at a rate related toan actual time of day, week, month, year or other time unit.
 18. Thedynamic art form display apparatus according to claim 12, furthercomprising: a time reference table operatively connected to said imageprocessing device, said table storing a time reference of a relationshipbetween an actual time of day and an image propagation pattern; whereinsaid apparatus accesses said time reference table and thereby propagatesthe art image in accordance with the image propagation pattern.
 19. Thedynamic art form display apparatus according to claim 1, furthercomprising: a programmable border area surrounding a viewing area ofsaid display device.
 20. The dynamic art form display apparatusaccording to claim 19, further comprising: an environmental sensoroperatively connected to said apparatus, said environmental sensorsensing an environmental condition; said apparatus altering the artimage such that the art form changes according to a change in anenvironmental condition sensed by said environmental sensor.
 21. Thedynamic art form display apparatus according to claim 20, said apparatuspropagating the art image in relation to the environmental conditiondetected by said environmental sensor.
 22. The dynamic art form displayapparatus according to claim 20, further comprising a sensor calibratoroperatively connected to said environmental sensor.
 23. The dynamic artform display apparatus according to claim 21, wherein, when propagating,said apparatus depicts a change in at least one of size, position,shape, color, apparent age, viewing angle, and rotation angle of atleast one object within the art image.
 24. The dynamic art form displayapparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a user control inputdevice operatively connected to the apparatus permitting a user tocontrol the apparatus.
 25. The dynamic art form display apparatusaccording to claim 24, said apparatus altering the art image to generatea processed art image in relation to user inputs from said user controlinput device.
 26. The dynamic art form display apparatus according toclaim 25, wherein said user control input device includes one or more ofthe following: voice command input device, push buttons input device,dial input device, alphanumeric key input device, touch screen inputdevice, or wireless remote control input device.
 27. The dynamic artform display apparatus according to claim 25, wherein said user inputdevice is physically connected to the apparatus.
 28. The dynamic artform display apparatus according to claim 25, wherein said user inputdevice is at a location remote to the apparatus and sends a user inputsignal to said wall-mountable dynamic art form display apparatus, aremote user interface device operatively connected to said apparatus,wherein said user input device is a remote user input device at alocation remote to the apparatus, said remote user interface devicerouting the user input signal from said remote user input device to saidapparatus.
 29. The dynamic art form display apparatus according to claim10, wherein the object is a person and said apparatus depicts aging ofthe person via image propagation.
 30. The dynamic art form displayapparatus according to claim 10, wherein the object is a geographicallocation and said apparatus depicts changes to the geographical locationover time.